Mortal Kombat Vita's uncomfortable new challenges detailed

The upcoming PS Vita version of Mortal Kombat includes all the DLC from the console version and additional exclusive content. But some of the touch-screen features seem entirely tacked-on.

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The upcoming PS Vita version of Mortal Kombat will be the most complete version of the game yet, with all the DLC included and additional exclusive content being thrown in for good measure. For example, the Vita version includes 15 additional costumes, including "MK3-styled garb for the ninjas." There's also a brand new Challenge Tower II, which adds 150 new challenges to the game.

This sounds good and dandy, but some of the touch-screen features seem entirely tacked-on.

The new Challenge Tower was developed to take advantage of Vita's unique features. For example, some of the challenges will feature characters later added as DLC. Other challenges will take advantage of the system's touch screen and motion sensor. The PlayStation.Blog details a few of these:

Raiden’s head inflated every time my opponent landed a blow. To win the match, I had to conquer my attacker while deflating Raiden’s head via the touchscreen. If Raiden’s head grew too big, or I tapped it too much, it popped. Fail!

In Bloody Mess (pictured above), I had to frantically wipe blood off the screen to avoid being blinded... not easy when you’re fending off the blade-slinging mutant Baraka.

In another challenge, I had to detonate lethal homing missiles using the touchscreen while dueling the cybernetic assassin Sektor.

If you're a fan of awkward multitasking, it sounds like these touch-screen additions will be just up your alley. Unfortunately, many others will likely opt for button-only gameplay. This gameplay video showcases how silly some of the touch screen games can be:

Mortal Kombat will be available on PS Vita this Spring.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    February 3, 2012 12:30 PM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Mortal Kombat Vita's uncomfortable new challenges detailed.

    The upcoming PS Vita version of Mortal Kombat includes all the DLC from the console version and additional exclusive content. But some of the touch-screen features seem entirely tacked-on.

    • reply
      February 3, 2012 12:49 PM

      [deleted]

      • reply
        February 3, 2012 1:02 PM

        Its true that touchscreen implementation seems better than the DS but its on par with any smartphone/tablet. I think it is going to be hard for the vita to differentiate itself from touch-based games on android and ios.

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        February 3, 2012 1:04 PM

        They look good on paper, but imagine them in practice. That second scenario of constantly having to wipe the touch screen while Baraka's coming at me sounds brutal, especially given how unfair the AI fighters in MK can be. The idea isn't to compare to the DS, but to think about why devs would shoehorn in touch controls to begin with.

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        February 3, 2012 1:06 PM

        Really? Because everything I've seen the touchscreen demoed for on the Vita seems pretty pointless compared to the DS. YMMV, though.

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        February 3, 2012 2:17 PM

        They sound fun to me.

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      February 3, 2012 12:59 PM

      Isn't Andrew the same editor who was getting all up in arms over SF on iPod?

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        February 3, 2012 1:22 PM

        Yes. I'd much rather see a touchscreen fighting game designed from the ground up with the touch screen in mind. Virtual buttons and porting touchscreen controls into an otherwise traditional game don't do it for me.

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          February 3, 2012 1:29 PM

          This is why SFIV is the greatest handheld fighting game ever. Capcom really set the bar insanely high with that game. When I was able to go from never having played the arcade or console version (only the 3DS one) to being able to kick the snot out of a bunch of arcade-dwellers last time I went to D&B I realized just how great of a job they did with that port.

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